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Hello everyone,
We plan to send our daughters to a martial art class. Both my husband and I, although like it, but have not been lucky enough to participate in any martial art class, but we would love that our daughter will attend one. We read a lot about different martial arts, and think that Aikido seems to be suitalbe with a girl like my daughter, so we decided to join this forum to learn from all of you about how to choose a Aikido class for a kid? Do you have any information about Aikido class for kids in Raleigh, NC 27606, USA? Which one is good? etc...
Thank you everyone for all information you share about Aikido class for kids and any comments and suggestions will be highly appreciated.
Thank you very much again and with all our best,
Lan

I can't speak for any of these dojo's as I've only ever been to Raleigh for a funeral . Maybe someone else will pop in here and give you the scoop on one or more.

Other than that, call the one(s) that interest you. If they allow it, visit and watch a full class. Talk to the Sensei and the students to get a feel for the people. Decide which dojo offers you the most in terms of your own confidence and comfort.

Go to a dojo and watch a children's class. If you are doubtful, watch it again. Meet the instructor and talk to the instructor. Have your children with you. If the children don't seem at all interested abide by that. Teaching children who don't want to be there is one of the hardest things in the world.

There is an excellent point that didn't occur to me. Gah! Teaching any subject to kids who aren't interested...... Giving adult types Excedrin Headaches this big since the beginnings of man!

Mark, now that I finished my degree, I have to make it to one of your weapons seminars. Aikido of Harvard folks, along with some people from the Green Bay area, have been telling me to get to one for 4 years, and every time it seemed to fall around exams or project due dates.

Hi everyone,
I greatly appreciate your time and information. Thank you very much everyone for your extremely helpful information about Aikido for kids in Raleigh, and tips how to choose an Aikido class for my daughter. Now we know where to shop around for a class. Once again, thanks a lot.
Best regards,
Lan

Both are talented aikido teachers and fine human beings. I was 13 when I started training with them, and I can say that both Bill and Ned are capable of providing a very positive atmosphere for children and young adults. If you go by to meet either of them, tell them Josh Lerner said "hi". I haven't trained with them for over ten years, but they might remember me . . .

I'm a student of Bunn Sensei right now and he not only remembers you, but talks about you frequently. You're a big guy, right? You have kind of a Paul Bunyan-type reputation.

Lan,

White Tiger, the giant martial arts school teaches SO many kids- they even go around to the area schools on a tiger-striped van to pick up kids for the after school stuff. I think they would be worth looking into.

I'm a student of Bunn Sensei right now and he not only remembers you, but talks about you frequently. You're a big guy, right? You have kind of a Paul Bunyan-type reputation.

Hahaha! That made my day. Actually, I'm a bit shorter than average - 5'8" - and was about 180 lbs when I left Raleigh. I think the tendency of time to exaggerate memories may be at work here . . .

We'll be visiting Raleigh again in November, so I'll try to stop by the dojo and say "hi". I don't know if I'll be able to work out - I've been in one aikido class in the last twelve years and the ukemi cracked a rib. But maybe I'll try to get myself back into ukemi shape and try to see if I can bluff my way into living up to my apparent reputation. Tell everyone I'm thinking about them.